Care Tips for Oranda Goldfish

Written by annette strauch

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Oranda goldfish originally came from China. They are a variety of fancy goldfish crossbred from veiltail and lionhead goldfish. Orandas are known for their wen, a raspberry-like growth on the head that can extend down the front of the face and cheeks. They have an egg-shaped body with flowing fins. The colour and patterns of orandas vary widely, including blue, bronze, calico, chocolate, orange, red, red-white, red-black, silver, tricolour and white. They grow to between 8 and 12 inches long. Orandas live well in a community of other fancy goldfish, but are recommended only for experienced fish hobbyists.

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Environmental Needs

A typical goldfish bowl is not a healthy environment for an oranda. A long tank filled with fresh water will provide more surface area for gas exchange. Use a water filter that cycles through the tank volume 10 times an hour. Add airstones, if needed, to provide movement to the water. Goldfish start out small, but continue to grow, requiring about 10 gallons of tank per fish. Keep the tank temperature between 18.3 and 25.6 degrees Celsius.

Feeding

Orandas are omnivores, so feed them a variety of foods including a high-quality flake food, appropriate fresh and frozen foods, and even an occasional treat of brine shrimp. Do not overfeed them.

Care of the Wen

The oranda's wen grows in stages, primarily during the spring and fall. The wen needs to be monitored for bacteria growing in its folds. The wen can also overgrow and block the oranda's vision. An aquatic veterinarian can anaesthetise the oranda and trim the wen.

Buoyancy Problems

The shape of the oranda makes it prone to"flipping" in which the fish will flip upside down and be unable to turn itself back over. If this is a problem in your tank, keep the nitrate level below 40 ppm, since high nitrate levels may be a cause. Regular vacuuming of the gravel, and planting fast-growing plants may also help. Treat any infections from bacteria or parasites. Intestinal gas can also cause flipping. Switch to a different commercial food after feeding the oranda a big meal of shrimp and peas to remove the gas from its digestive system. Feed it a medicated food for seven to 10 days. Feeding it fresh food is another option.